This paper presents the different initiatives carried out over the past decades by state parties, in collaboration with non-state actors, particularly members of the academe and non-government organizations, here and across the world, to address the various forms, manifestations, and causes of gender issues. It highlights the vulnerabilities, especially of women and children who belong to marginalized ethno-cultural communities (‘Indigenous Peoples’, ‘Moros’) to various forms of gender-based violence and discrimination. The paper argues for the continued support of scholars, particularly anthropologists and other social scientists, to actively participate in the protection, promotion, and fulfillment of human rights through their teaching, research, and extension-service activities. The platforms for critical engagement at present lie in policy reforms and advocacy as well as vigilance in documenting, monitoring, and reporting the violations of women’s human rights. It is equally important for anthropologists to provide support, if and when called for, in the development of gender-responsive plans, programs, and services.
Keywords: Gender issues, ethnic discrimination, gender equality, human rights, women’s human rights, gender and developmentnan